A Full and True Relation Of Two very Remarkable Trials AT THE Quarter-Sessions OF THE PEACE For the CITY and LIBERTY of WESTMINSTER Held in the Great Hall, on Monday the Third of October, and ending the Eleventh of the same. The one, for Scandalous Words, by one Shippon: The other, of a Priest in the Gatehouse, for Spoiling a Girl of Nine Years old. By Way of Letter to a Friend.  
SIR,  
IT is not long since you desired of me an account of our Justices and their proceed; which I should have sooner returned you, but that the shortness of time, and a quiet peaceable Age gave me small opportunity to do it. For though when Sr. W. was in Commission, and so extraordinary Active, we had some cause to fear: yet now (thank God) we are very well at ease, every man enjoying his own morsel, and not so much as having a fear left one of another. But we must ever own our respects and love to him for his diligent care of us, and own the present ease and safety that we enjoy, to him as the original cause of it. For since his time, the Papists amongst us, are either fled out of the Nation, or their number so few, that we cannot see them; the Priests and Jesuits most or all (we hope) secured; so that we have great cause to rejoice over our Enemies now more than ever, being big with the expectation of a happy issue from these Troubles, by the approaching Parliament, whom God direct for the good prosperity of our King, Religion, Laws, Liberties, and the general Welfare of the Nation.  
But Sir, I must acquaint you, that our Justices do upon all occasions show themselves Men and Gentlemen; though we have not had so much cause of action as formerly; however we are satisfied, they are men of unspotted Reputation and Credit, such as will hazard their Lives and Fortunes for the maintenance and preservation of their Prince, and Religion too; I mean the Church of England established by Law. And I will give you a brief account of Two remarkable Trials before them; the first on Monday last, the other on Saturday following.  
An Indictment was brought against one Philip Shippon, a Servant to the Earl of Shrewsbury, for very scandalous and opprobrious words spoke by him in February last; which I'll repeat as I heard them sworn to in Court, That Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow were great Rogues, and Perjured Rogues, that Dugdale was a great Rogue, and had cheated his Lord and Master my Lord Ashton of a Thousand Pounds; That there was no Plot; That he heard my Lord Shrewsbury say, that the King told him, he did not believe there was any Plot against his Life and Government by the Papists; That His Majesty did believe, the Jesuits and others that suffered died wrongfully, which He suffered only to please some discontented Lords of the Council, but was resolved no more should suffer for the Plot. These words were sworn to by Mr. Boldron and Mr. Mowbray, though Mr. Boldron's Mother and Wife added to the former part of them their Testimony, that the said Shippon did often abuse the King's Evidence, and talk down the Plot. He pleaded Not Guilty, and brought one or two Witnesses, who offered to prove it to be Mr. Boldron's Malice and Design against him: But the Proof was plain, and Sr. Francis Withens Steward of Westminster and Chairman to the Bench gave such clear directions to the Jury, and withal such Content and Satisfaction to the Court and Prisoner, that he hath no cause to complain. The Jury found him Guilty without going from the Bar: and the next day he was brought for his Sentence, where they passed a Fine of 500 Marks upon him, Imprisonment till it be paid, and to find Sureties for his Behaviour one Twelve Months.  
Now Sir, I must observe the great Impudence this Fellow had at his Trial; who was as bold and unconcerned, as if he had had 500 l. given him, scarcely forbearing to laugh all the while. And also it is worth our while, to Note the great subtlety these Rascals have to father such words upon our Prince, who is most in danger by the Plot; which they do on purpose to create Jealousies and Fears, and divide the hearts of his people from him. They that think it no Sin to destroy him and us, no doubt think it none to abuse and separate us. But God above we hope will settle and strengthen our Love and Duty to Him more and more, that being well united, we may resolve to destroy the Devil and all his Agents, the Papists from amongst us root and branch; and let every good Protestant say Amen.  
Now Sir, I must beg your pardon, being come to a very foul case; which because of the precedent sake, though filthy; I will wrap up as clean as I can, not to hid the material Circumstances and Truth from you.  
On Wednesday last an Indictment was brought against one Dowdel alias Ireland, alias Johnson, a Priest and Prisoner in the Gatehouse; for an assault upon the body of one _____ Bishop, a Girl of Nine or Ten Years of age, with an intent to have Ravished her, whose Mother was formerly Prisoner there, the Girl going often to the Prisoner to carry such things as he had occasion for: But the Court being ready to rise, and the Trial seeming long, they adjourned themselves till Saturday: and on Saturday he was brought and the Girl in Court. The Girl in Court swore against him; That in August last he used to kiss her, to take her on his knee, and to give her Sugared Beer, sometimes to put his Tongue in her Mouth, and his hands up her Coats; that he hurt her once with his Finger, which made her cry; and then to please her, gave her Two Groats: and that a Week after he took her in like manner upon his Knee, and after he had kissed her a while, he threw her upon his Bed (having made his Door fast with a Stick) fell upon her, pulled up her Coats; and hurt her with something, insomuch that she cried out; but he stopped her mouth with the Bed-cloaths, and hurt her the more, till she struggling got hold of his Laced Cuffs and tore them, and also dirted his Silk Coat with her feet, at which he let her alone, but kissed her and bidding her be quiet, etc. took a shilling and gave her; and when she had done crying, sent her home. The Child being ashamed, and not thinking of any harm, said nothing, till her Mother found out that the lower parts of her Belly were in a Weeks time grown so sore, that she could not sit down; and withal, she is perfectly Bursten: And then upon her Mother's enquiring she confessed the matter, and had half a dozen Midwives to inspect the thing: who all came and made Oath of the Truth of it, and the sad condition the Girl was in (except one of Mrs. Celliers acquaintance) who said, That it was only a swelling which might come from her going up and down stairs, etc. Moreover Mr. Church did confess he had a stick to make fast his door: Another woman, that she saw the Girl come down with a shilling or such a piece in her hand one day. The Keeper also affirmed, he would not let the Girl go up so often, and the said Dowdel desired it of him, saying he had business to do. It was also sworn, that he sent two persons to bribe the Girls Parents to put it up: That her Father being drunk, said he would do it for Forty Pound; but Dowdel said Ten Pound was enough: That he sent others afterward to tell them he would give nothing, that he did not value them of a farthing, etc. To this he pleaded Not Guilty: Being asked if he would challenge of the Jury, he answered like an Irish St. Omer, Me like dem well, they be all honest men. Being asked, if ever he used to kiss the Girl and set her upon his knee; he answered Yes my Lor the chile be so pretty and do twenty pretty things make me laugh a hundred times. Being asked if ever he gave her money, he said, My Lord that be my charity, when her Mother be in Prisson, I took her to eat half my dinner, and I say this be pretty Shile, I had love for the Shile and gave her any thing I had: she use to come often for my charity. But amongst the rest of his discourse he owned the matter in effect in these words, which happened about entering her body, he said, Me enter her dis far, pointing his finger to the Court. He brought one or two to speak in his behalf, and would have laid it upon malice, as his friend Shippon before did. But the Case though never so foul, was clear enough that he did assault her body, for which he was Indicted, and by the Jury immediately found Guilty.  
Though Sir, you have here a Precedent of a very strange and prodigious Crime committed by a Popish Priest, yet he had not altogether so much Impudence to deny it, as some others: For he was very well satisfied with his Legal Trial; and accordingly thanked both the Bench and Jury that they had permitted him such fairness and freedom to have cleared himself, if there had been cause for it.  
On Monday the 11th Instant he was brought again to receive the Judgement of the Court, which was, To pay a Fine of 500 Marks, to continue in Prison till it be paid, and to give good Security for his Behaviour during Life: and further, the Court ordered him to be turned over to the Old Bayley, there to be Tried as a Priest.  
I have nothing more to add Sir, but to desire your excuse for the length of this; and to pray, that all the rest of these evil workers may be brought to equal shame and condign punishment by the hands of Justice.  
I am, etc. Westminster, Octob. 11. 1680.   

London, Printed for W. H. and T. F. 1680.